Machine for converting tubular fabric into a web of fabric



D. PERNICK Oct. 1, 1963 MACHINE FOR CONVERTING TUBULAR FABRIC INTO A WEBOF FABRIC Filed July 24. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTRl T l- 3 DAV/0FERN/CK BY I Oct. 1, 1963 D. PERNICK 3,105,283

MACHINE FOR CONVERTING TUBULAR FABRIC INTO A WEB OF FABRIC I5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24. 1961 INVENTOR. DAV/0 Pffi/WC/r AT 7 05 Ali1 5 3,155,283 Patented Get. 1, 1963 3,1GS,283 MAQEWE FOR CGNVER'HNGTUBULAR FABRIC ENTD A WEB 9F FABRIC David Perniclr, 182G Shore BlvdBrooklyn, NY. Filed duty 24, 1961, Ser. No. 126,342 8 Qiairns. (Ci.file-1) The present invention relate to fabric handling apparatus and,more particularly, to a machine for converting a length of tubularfabric into a web of fabric adapted to be rolled up, which machine is animprovement over the machine disclosed in my copending United Statespatent application Serial No. 99,456, filed March 30, 1961, entitledFabric Handling Machine, and now abandoned.

In the aforementioned patent application a machine is disclosed forcutting a tubular length of fabric produced on a circular knittingmachine, unfolding the fabric into a fiat web, and rolling up the web.While this machine is generally satisfactory for its intended purpose,it has been found that certain operations thereof can be improved toprovide a more uniformly spread and minimally tensioned roll of fabricin web form, which thereafter lends itself for better handling in thecutting and sewing of garments to be made therefrom.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved machine of the foregoing type.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein improved fabrichandling mechanisms are employed to more readily handle fabric thatusually is difficult to unfold, spread and roll up.

Another object is to provide such a machine which by reason of theimprovements therein can be operated more rapidly and thereby has ahigher production rate.

A further object is to provide such a machine in a simple, practical andeconomical manner.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of theillustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated inthe appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein willoccur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention inpractice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a machine in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine looking upwardly at themachine, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a staggered sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the machine which forconvenience of illustration was only partially shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating an arrangement forhandling a folded-up length of tubular fabric.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a machine is shown whichgenerally comprises means for advancing a length of tubular fabric Tfolded upon itself in flat condition to provide two folded side edges E,means 11 adjacent and beyond the means 10 for cutting or splitting thefabric lengthwise at one of the folded edges E to provide two free edgesF, means 12 for unfolding and spreading the cut fabric into a flat webW, conveyor means 13- for supporting the tubular fabric while being cutand for conveying the folded cut fabric in flat condition from thecutting means to the unfolding and spreading means 12, means 14 formaintaining the web in spread and flat condition and for furtherspreading the web to its full width uniformly, take-up roll means 15 2for the web, and drive means 16 for effecting operation of the advancingmeans 10, the conveyor means 13 and the take-up means 15 in timedrelationship.

The advancing means 10 comprises a pair of rotating rolls 19 and 20arranged to provide a nip therebetween for receiving the length oftubular fabric T and to move the same onto the conveyor means 13.

The cutting means 11 comprises a circular blade 17 driven by a motor 18.In FIG. 4, the cutting means is located just beyond the rolls 19' and2t) and in advance of the conveyor means 13; while in FIG. 5, thecutting means is located adjacent the conveyor means 13 and the rolls 19and 20 are dispensed with, a roll 19A being provided for cooperatingwith the conveyor means 13 to advance the tubular fabric from thefolded-up pile of fabric P to the cutting means.

The conveyor means 13 comprises an endless belt arrangement 21 mountedon rolls 22 and 23- to provide an upper'strand on which the fabric issupported in flat condition. As shown herein, the belt arrangementincludes a plurality of spaced apart belts 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which mayon the other hand be constituted by a single belt. Preferably and asshown, the upper strand of the belt arrangement is inclined upwardlyfrom the advancing means 10 to the unfolding means 12, and is adapted todraw up the fabric under control against lateral shifting. It is to benoted that the fabric is under substantially no tension while beingcarried upwardly by the conveyor 13.

The unfolding means 12 as shown herein (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) accomplishthree functions. One function is to guide and position the cut foldedfabric for symmetrical unfolding thereof; a second function is to effectsuch symmetrical unfolding and also symmetrically spread the fabric; anda third function is to cooperate with the means 14 for completing thespreading of the fabric and maintaining it in spread and flat condition,as about to be described. 7

In order to accomplish these functions, the means 12 generally comprisea guide '25 (FIG. 1) and the structure 26 beneath the guide 25positioned above the means 14.

The guide 25 extends crosswise with respect to the direction in whichthe folded cut fabric is moving while being delivered by the conveyormeans 13 and has an elongated slot 27 facing downwardly through whichthe fabric passes with the uncut folded edge E at the left end of theslot and the cut free edges F nearer the right end of the slot, asviewed in FIG. 1.

The structure 26 is generally of a symmetrically triangular formation(FIGS. 1 and 3) and has an apex or blunt pointed port-ion 28 just belowthe left end of the slot 27, as viewed in FIG. 1. The structure furtherhas a V- shaped apex portion on ridge 29 (FIG. 3) extending horizontallyfrom the portion 28 beneath the slot 27 for substantially the length ofthe slot to direct the folds of the fabric having passed through theslot in opposite directions, and has diverging side portions or rails 30which are inclined downwardly from the left end of the slot towards thetake-up means (FIG. 2) with the altitude line of the triangularformation being in vertical alignment with the slot 27 (FIG. 1). Thus,as the cut folded fabric passes downwardly through the slot 27 with thepointed portion 28 fitting into the interior of the folded edge of thefabric, the gravitational pull on the fabric by its weight causes theridge 29 to open the fabric and the rails 36 not only direct the cutfree edges of the fabric in opposite directions '(over and then underthe rails) to unfold thefabric into the web with the free edges nowconstituting the side edgesof the web (FIG. 1) but also uniformlydistribute the weight of the fabric in such manner that the fabricmovement along the rails 3% is substantially free, relaxed and withouttension. Thus, the combination 3 of gravity and downwardly inclinedrails 30 provide smooth movement to the opened fabric and, since thelongitudinal tension is minimal, the correct fabric width is maintainedand not reduced.

The means 14 comprise a downwardly inclined, flat plate 31, below andclosely adjacent the structure 26 for supporting and, like the rails 30,similarly distributing the weight of the web of the fabric as it isformed in drawing the free edges under the rails 30 (FIG. 1). The Webslides down along this plate, with minimal tension, as it moves towardsthe take-up means. The means 14 further comprise a rod 32 at the loweredge of the plate 31 (FIG. 2) and adjacent the take-up means 15 underwhich the web passes. The rod 32 is stationary and extends crosswisewith respect to the web. The rod has surface formations 33 along itslength for frictional engagement with the web to spread and maintain theweb at its full width as it is delivered to the take-up means to therebyprovide a smooth and even roll of fabric. The formations 33, as shownherein, are herringbone-like ribs which from the middle of the rodextend in opposite directions to thereby laterally urge half of thewidth of the web towards the right and the other half towards the left(F1641).

The take-up means 15 comprise a roll 34 for the web of fabric providedwith an axle 35 having outwardly extending ends each mounted in a slotor guideway 36 of a bracket member 37 at each end of the roll 34, and adriven roll 38 journalled for rotation between the bracket members 37below the roll 34, so that the roll 34 rests on the roll 38 with the webbetween these rolls and rotation of the roll 38 effects rotation of theroll 34 to take up the web. This arrangement enables the roll 38 to pullthe web at a constant lineal speed and to effect rotation of the roll 34at the required radial speed to wind up the web of fabric under uniformtension without resorting to variable speed drive mechanism tocompensate for the increase in diameter of the roll of fabric. a

The fabric advancing means :10, the conveyor means 13 and the take-upmeans 15 are driven in synchronism by the drive means 16, so that thefabric is fed into the machine at exactly the same rate it is taken upon the roll 34. As shown in FIG. 1, the drive means 16 comprise a sourceof power (not shown) connected to one end of output shaft 39 having atits other end a variable pitch pulley 40 connected through a 'belt 41 toa pulley 42, which in turn is connected through a bearing 43 to gears 44and 45 and thence to the roll 38. Shaft 39 drives roll 20, as seen inFIG. 4, and adjacent its other end it is also provided with a sprocket46 for driving sprocket 47 through chain 48 to drive the conveyor roll22. While not shown, the rolls 19 and 20 are connected by gearing or thelike, so that the roll 20 effects rotation of the roll 19.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the roll 22 is driven like the roll20 in FIG. 4 and is connected by gearing to the roll 19A to drive thesame. The lower end of the conveyor means serves as the roll 20 toprovide the nip for the fabric being advanced.

, Although not shown herein, it will be understood that the advancingmeans 10, the unfolding and spreading means 12, 14, the conveyor means13, the take-up means '15 and the drive means 15 are supported andstructurally interconnected by suitable framework.

In operation, the essential fabric handling steps comprise moving thetubular fabric in a generally horizontal path, cutting the tube toprovide the folded web, changing the direction of movement of the foldedweb to a generally vertical downward path, and then moving the fabricagain in a generally horizontal path at right angles to its first pathwhile unfolding, spreading and taking up the web.

Since the fabric must move downwardly between the conveyor means 13 andthe slot 27, the conveyor means move the fabric upwardly and thestructure 26 guides the fabric downwardly, so that the input and theoutput of the machine are at about the same level and a compactarrangement is provided.

While the machine has been described as being particularly adapted forconverting knit tubular fabric into a web of such fabric, by way ofexample, it will be apparent that the machine is likewise adapted toconvert other types of flexible tubular material into a web of suchmaterial.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved machine for con vertingtubular fabricinto a web of fabric wherein the forces acting on the fabric are sosymmetrically and uniformly applied throughout as to assure theformation of a roll of fabric having its correct, true width maintainedthroughout.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, itis to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted asillustrative and not in any limiting sense. For example, the elevationof the conveyor roll 23 (see FIG. 4) may be reduced to just above theapex 29 and thereby eliminate need of the guide 25.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means foradvancing a length of fabric folded upon itself in flat condition andprovided with a folded edge and a cut edge having two free edges, meansbeneath said advancing means having a point for engaging an inner sideof the fabric at the folded edge and having downwardly diverging sideportions for unfolding the fabric into a flat web, and means beneathsaid preceding means for supporting said fabric, whereby said fabric isuniformly moved along said supporting means with minimal tension appliedto the fabric, said fabric being free from longitudinal and lateralstresses while being formed into said flat Web so as to insure that truefabric width is maintained.

2. A machine according to claim 1, including conveyor means forsupporting the folded cut fabric in fiat condition.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said conveyor means has asurface for effecting frictional engagement of the fabric.

4.. A machine according to claim 1, including take-up means for drawingthe fiat web of fabric onto a roll.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combina tion of means foradvancing a length of fabric folded upon itself in flat condition andprovided with a folded edge and a cut edge having two free edges, meanshav ing a slot extending crosswise with respect to the path in which thefolded cut fabric is advanced for guiding the fabric downwardly, meansbeneath said last mentioned means having a point for engaging an innerside of the fabric at the folded edge and having downwardly divergingside portions for unfolding the fabric into a flat web, means beneathsaid preceding means for supporting said fabric, whereby said fabric isuniformly moved along said supporting means with minimal tension appliedto the fabric, said fabric thus being free from longitudinal and lateralstresses while being formed into said flat web so as to insure that truefabric width is maintained, and take-up means for drawing the web in adirection at substantially right angles to the advancing means to form aroll of said web.

- 6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair offeed rolls for advancing a length of tubular fabric folded upon itselfin flat condition to provide two folded edges, means beyond said feedrolls for cutting the fabric lengthwise at one of the folded edges toprovide two free edges, parallel spaced apart members providing a slotextending crosswise with respect to the path in which the cut fabric isadvanced for guiding the fabric downwardly, an endless belt conveyorbetween said slot and said cutting means for frictionally engaging andsupporting the folded cut fabric in fiat condition while conveying itfrom said cutting means to said slot,

generally triangular structure beneath said slot having a blunt apexportion under one end of said slot for engaging an inner side of thefabric at the uncut folded edge thereof and having downwardly divergingside portions for unfolding the fabric into a fiat web, a plate beneathsaid triangular structure for slidably supporting the unfolded fabricand the resulting web, whereby said fabric is uniformly moved along saidplate with minimal tension applied to the fabric, take-up means fordrawing the web of fabric onto a roll, and a rod between said take-upmeans and said plate and in frictional contact with the web, said rodhaving surface formations along its length for laterally outwardlyurging half of the width of the web in one direction and the other halfin the opposite direction.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said conveyor is inclinedupwardly from said feed rolls, said slot is adjacent and below thedelivery end of said conveyor, said structure and said plate areparallel and adjacent to each other and are inclined downwardly towardssaid take-up means in a direction perpendicular to which said conveyorextends lengthwise.

8. A machine according to claim 6, including a common drive for saidfeed rolls, said conveyor and said take-up means to control the tensionof said fabric as it is converted from a tube to a web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,261,877 Weinberger Apr. 9, 1918 1,531,313 Shapera Mar. 31, 19251,801,757 Shippling Apr. 21, 1931 2,108,127 Kasanof Feb. 15, 19382,467,281 Walter et a1. Apr. 12, 1949

1. IN A MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FORADVANCING A LENGTH OF FABRIC FOLDED UPON ITSELF IN FLAT CONDITION ANDPROVIDED WITH A FOLDED EDGE AND A CUT EDGE HAVING TWO FREE EDGES, MEANSBENEATH SAID ADVANCING MEANS HAVING A POINT FOR ENGAGING AN INNER SIDEOF THE FABRIC AT THE FOLDED EDGE AND HAVING DOWNWARDLY DIVERGING SIDEPORTIONS FOR UNFOLDING THE FABRIC INTO A FLAT WEB, AND MEANS BENEATHSAID PRECEDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FABRIC, WHEREBY SAID FABRIC ISUNIFORMLY MOVED ALONG SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WITH MINIMAL TENSION APPLIEDTO THE FABRIC, SAID FABRIC BEING FREE FROM LONGITUDINAL AND LATERALSTRESSES WHILE BEING FORMED INTO SAID FLAT WEB SO AS TO INSURE THAT TRUEFABRIC WIDTH IS MAINTAINED.